Western meddling in India's strategic autonomy came to the fore once again after German Vice Chancellor Robert Habeck raised questions over India's growing imports of Russian crude ahead of his visit to New Delhi this week.
Habeck, who also serves as the Federal Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action for the European nation, told German broadcaster N-TV that there were concerns over India's deepening partnership with Russia.
"It is not right that India is actively benefiting from sanctions against Russia and the general situation through large oil imports from Russia," the German Vice Chancellor said.
Habeck, currently on a three-day visit to India, having arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday, was categorically asked if he would raise the issue of India's expanding trade and defense cooperation. To which he replied that he would take up the matter with the Indian authorities.
"Yes, as I did during previous discussions," he stated.
Germany is among many other Western nations, including the US that have continuously needled New Delhi over its equations with Moscow.
The US and its European allies have repeatedly urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration to cut down on its reliance on oil and defense products from the Eurasian nation.
The Western attempts to put pressure on India have come despite a growing pushback from New Delhi; the South Asian nation has cited the right to follow an "independent foreign policy" based on the premise of the country's "national interest."
Indian authorities have underlined that given that it's the third largest importer of crude in the world, supplies from Russia are crucial for the nation's energy security.
While there is little doubt that crude imports from Russia have helped tackle inflation as oil prices have stabilized over the past year or so, the German economy has faced the heat after it joined other European Union member states in slapping economic sanctions on Moscow.
From being the fastest-growing European economy, Berlin is on the verge of recession, with prices of gasoline and food items, including essentials at a record high. In March 2023, Germany's inflation surged to an all-time high of 21.20.
India, on the other hand, is enjoying the fruits of an uninterrupted supply of oil from Russia as it has helped the government to keep the prices of diesel, petroleum, and cooking gas in check.
While there is little doubt that crude imports from Russia have helped tackle inflation as oil prices have stabilized over the past year or so, the German economy has faced the heat after it joined other European Union member states in slapping economic sanctions on Moscow.
From being the fastest-growing European economy, Berlin is on the verge of recession, with prices of gasoline and food items, including essentials at a record high. In March 2023, Germany's inflation surged to an all-time high of 21.20.
India, on the other hand, is enjoying the fruits of an uninterrupted supply of oil from Russia as it has helped the government to keep the prices of diesel, petroleum, and cooking gas in check.
Last month, India's oil purchases from Russia crossed a significant milestone. For the first time in history, Indian imports from the country governed by President Vladimir Putin broke the 2 million barrels per day (bpd) barrier, with the final figure touching the 2.2 bpd mark.